Officer approves two special ADUs at 125 West Yananali Street; owner to provide on-street parking permits

Tess Harris, the City of Santa Barbara staff hearing officer, on Sept. 17, 2025 announced approval of a coastal development permit to convert a detached accessory building at 125 West Yananali Street into two special accessory dwelling units, sized about 220 and 276 square feet. Harris noted the site is associated with an existing six-unit apartment building and that the project includes eight long-term covered bicycle parking spaces and a new trash enclosure.

Staff planner Burkhardt told the hearing the property is within the area covered by AB 2097 and is approximately 0.2 miles from the Amtrak station, which triggers the state law parking exemption for new ADUs near transit. “No auto parking is required for the proposed ADUs,” Burkhardt said on the record. A tenant had filed a public comment noting their existing lease allowed an on-site parking space; Burkhardt said the applicant and property owner have committed to working with those tenants to obtain and pay for on-street parking permits and to amend leases accordingly.

Burkhardt and Harris also noted that staff recommended providing eight long-term covered bike parking spaces to help offset the loss of on-site automobile parking and to support coastal policy objectives; the applicant included those spaces on site. The staff report cited CEQA Guidelines section 15303 for the environmental exemption.

Harris formally announced approval and reminded the public that, for ADU coastal-development announcements in the city’s non-appealable coastal jurisdiction, the staff hearing officer’s decision is final and not subject to appeal. She wished the applicant and property owner well as they proceed to the building-permit stage.

No additional public comment was raised at the hearing for this item; staff will finalize conditions of approval and the project description in the building-permit files.